Kinematic back panel

ABSTRACT

A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having a seat cushion assembly. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatback cushion assembly. A polymeric hard back panel is operably coupled with the seatback and includes a recessed portion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line configured to split during a rear impact collision of the vehicle, resulting in flaps of the controlled deformation portion extending rearward relative to the seatback. The controlled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle seating assembly, and more particularly to a kinematic back panel for a vehicle seating assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Seating assemblies for vehicles typically include a seatback to support the back of an occupant in an upright seated position and various reclined positions. Seatbacks of these vehicle seating assemblies are commonly designed to support an occupant upon acceleration, change in direction, and collision of the vehicle, such that the seatbacks are substantially rigid in construction and can utilize beneficial safety features.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having a seat cushion assembly. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatback cushion assembly. A polymeric hard back panel is operably coupled with the seatback and includes a recessed portion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line configured to split during a rear impact collision of the vehicle, resulting in flaps of the controlled deformation portion extending rearward relative to the seatback. The controlled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seating assembly includes a frame. A seat is operably coupled with the frame and includes a seat cushion assembly. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatback cushion assembly disposed over a forward portion of the frame. A back panel is operably coupled with a rear portion of the frame. The back panel includes an upper aesthetic portion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat including a seat cushion assembly. A seatback is pivotally coupled with the seat and includes a seatback cushion assembly. A back panel is operably coupled with the seatback and includes an intermediate recessed portion and an upper aesthetic portion. A controlled deformation portion includes a rupture line. The controlled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle seating assembly of the present disclosure disposed in a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the vehicle seating assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is one configuration of a kinematic back panel of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a controlled deformation portion of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 3 with a pocket;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a deformation portion of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of another configuration of a kinematic back panel of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 7 with a pocket concealing a portion of the kinematic back panel;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of one configuration of a kinematic back panel of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 10 with a pocket concealing a controlled deformation portion of the kinematic back panel; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the kinematic back panel of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Referring to the embodiment generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, reference numeral 10 generally designates a seating assembly for a vehicle 12 that includes a seat 14 having a seat cushion assembly 16. A seatback 18 is pivotally coupled with the seat 14 and includes a seatback cushion assembly 20. A polymeric hard back panel 22 is operably coupled with the seatback 18 and includes a recessed portion 24. A controlled deformation portion 26 includes a rupture line 28 configured to split during a rear impact collision of the vehicle 12, resulting in flaps 29 of the controlled deformation portion 26 extending rearward relative to the seatback 18. The controlled deformation portion 26 is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall 30.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seating assembly 10 may be used in any vehicle 12, such as a car, a truck, a van, etc. It is also contemplated that the concept set forth in this disclosure may be utilized in a front or forward position of the vehicle 12 as well as a rear or rearward position of the vehicle 12. The vehicle seating assembly 10, as illustrated, includes a seat base 40 that is positioned on rail slides 42 to allow fore and aft movement of the vehicle seating assembly 10 relative to the vehicle 12. The seat 14 is operably coupled with the seat base 40 and is movable relative thereto, as set forth in further detail below. In addition, the seatback 18 of the vehicle seating assembly 10 includes a lower lumbar region 42 and an upper thoracic region 44 as well as a head restraint 46. Each of the components of the seatback 18 may be configured for adjustability to properly support the weight of various occupants inside the vehicle 12.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the illustrated back panel 22 is constructed from a polymeric material, which may include a high density polyethylene or other formable, yet rigid polymer configured to provide structural qualities to the seatback 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the back panel 22 includes sidewalls 23. The recessed portion 24 is generally defined in a central portion 50 of the back panel 22. However, it will be understood that the recessed portion 24 may be of varying sizes, and is not limited to the central portion 50 of the seatback 18. In addition, a pocket 52, as illustrated, is defined between a back surface 54 of the back panel 22 proximate the recessed portion 24 and an inner surface 56 of the pocket wall 30. The pocket 52 may be of varying sizes and may also include sub-pockets disposed within an area of the pocket 52. Fastening apertures 58 engage with features on the pocket wall 30 to secure the pocket wall 30 to the back surface 54 of the back panel 22.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-6, the illustrated configuration includes the controlled deformation portion 26 having a generally “W-shaped” configuration. The controlled deformation portion 26 includes a perforated line 60 with an intermittent connector 62 spaced along the perforated line 60. It is generally contemplated that an occupant seated in the vehicle seating assembly 10 during a rear collision event will be thrust into the seat 14 and the seatback 18, and that the hips and buttocks of the occupant may be pushed rearward under force of the rear collision impact, such that the buttocks and hips of the occupant push the controlled deformation portion 26 rearwardly relative to the seatback 18. It is generally contemplated that the flaps 29 of the controlled deformation portion 26 may expand rearward at the intermittent connectors 62, or may be expanded backward if the intermittent connectors 62 break. As with the previous configurations, it is generally contemplated that the controlled deformation portion 26 may be concealed within a pocket 52 defined by the pocket wall 30, and that the controlled deformation portion 26 may be in a recess. It is also generally contemplated, with each of the configurations disclosed herein, that the recess may include an upper tier 80 and a lower tier 82, wherein the upper tier 80 is shallower than the lower tier 82. The controlled deformation portion 26 is generally disposed in the lower tier 82 proximate the hips and buttocks of a seated occupant and proximate the knees of an occupant seated behind the vehicle seating assembly 10.

With each of the configurations disclosed herein, it is generally contemplated that the controlled deformation portion 26 is also designed to deform inwardly into the seat 14 during a front impact collision event, such that the knees of an occupant seated behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 can be thrust into the controlled deformation portion 26, thereby expanding the flaps 29 into the vehicle seating assembly 10, or breaking the flaps 29 at the intermittent connectors 62, again resulting in the flaps 29 pushing into the vehicle seating assembly 10.

With reference now to FIG. 7, another configuration of the controlled deformation portion 26 is illustrated that includes the rupture line 28 having a thin contoured line 100 defined in the recessed portion 24 of the hard back panel 22. The thin contoured line 100 includes a generally “W-shaped” configuration and is, like the previous configuration, configured to allow the buttocks and hips of an occupant in the vehicle seating assembly 10 to push the controlled deformation portion 26 rearward, allowing expansion of the controlled deformation portion 26 at the thin contoured lines 100, or even breakage of the controlled deformation portion 26 at the thin contoured lines 100. The thin contoured lines 100 of the controlled deformation portion 26 generally define the flaps 29. During a rear collision event, one or both of the flaps 29 may expand rearwardly, resulting in expansion of the thin contoured line 100, or even breakage of the thin contoured line 100, which pushes the flaps 29 rearward relative to the seatback 18. As shown in FIG. 7, it is generally contemplated that the controlled deformation portion 26 may be concealed by a pocket wall 110. It is generally understood that the pocket wall 110 defines a pocket 112 between a rear surface 114 of the back panel 22 and an inner surface 116 of the pocket wall 110. The pocket wall 110 may be relatively stiff, or flexible cloth or polymeric material extending over the controlled deformation portion 26. Regardless, the pocket wall 110 generally consists of a material that will allow for expansion of the controlled deformation portion 26 rearward. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the controlled deformation portion 26 may be coupled with the back panel 22 via welding, including sonic or thermal welding, by adhesive, or fasteners. Alternatively, the controlled deformation portion 26 may be an integral part of the hard back panel 22.

With reference again to FIGS. 6-8, it is also contemplated that the controlled deformation portion 26 provides a benefit to a seated occupant located behind the vehicle seating assembly 10. Specifically, a seated occupant located behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 will benefit from the controlled deformation portion 26 when a front impact collision occurs, which thrusts the occupant seated behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 forward into the back panel 22 of the vehicle seating assembly 10. The back panel 22 includes the controlled deformation portion 26, which is generally positioned at a location proximate the rear occupant's knees. Consequently, when a front collision occurs, the knees of the rear occupant are thrust into the controlled deformation portion 26, thereby expanding the controlled deformation portion 26 at the thin contoured line 100, or even breaking the controlled deformation portion 26 at the thin contoured line 100, thereby pushing the flaps 29 into the seatback 18. In either instance, the knees of the rear occupant are slowly stopped over a larger distance, thereby minimizing the likelihood of injury to the knees or legs of the rear occupant.

With reference now to FIG. 10, one configuration of the controlled deformation portion 26 is illustrated that includes a weakened area 200 proximate a vertically lower, and horizontally central region 202 of the back panel 22. The controlled deformation portion 26 of FIG. 10 is configured to allow the hips and buttocks of an occupant in the seat 14 to expand the controlled deformation portion 26, pushing the controlled deformation portion 26 rearward relative to the seatback 18. Consequently, the hips and buttocks of an occupant is allowed a greater distance to travel before stopping during a rear impact collision event involving the vehicle 12.

With reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12, This area of the back panel 22, and specifically the controlled deformation portion 26, may be integrally formed into the back panel 22, or may be secured with the back panel 22 via fastener apertures 203 disposed about a periphery of the recessed portion 24 (FIG. 12). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a pocket wall 204 may be disposed over the thin weakened area 200 that generally defines the controlled deformation portion 26 to define a pocket 206. An additional benefit of the controlled deformation portion 26 is that an occupant disposed behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 during a front impact collision will benefit from a less rigid structure of the back panel 22. More specifically, the controlled deformation portion 26 allows the knees of an occupant seated behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 to be thrust into the controlled deformation portion 26 of the back panel 22, providing a soft stop of the occupant's knees, without the abrupt stop that might otherwise occur if the hard back panel 22 was more rigid at the controlled deformation portion 26. It is generally contemplated, with regard to this configuration, that the occupant seated behind the vehicle seating assembly 10 would force the controlled deformation portion 26 of the back panel 22 into the seatback 18 of the vehicle seating assembly 10 with the occupant's knees, thereby creating a bulbous deformed portion that extends into the vehicle seating assembly 10. As a result of this construction, the knees of the occupant are less likely to be injured.

It will be understood that the various configurations, as disclosed herein, have common features and components. It will also be understood that for those features that are not common among the various configurations, different reference numerals will signify those aspects of the various configurations.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising: a seat including a seat cushion assembly; a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat and including a seatback cushion assembly; and a polymeric hard back panel operably coupled with the seatback and comprising: a recessed portion; and a controlled deformation portion including a rupture line configured to split during a rear impact collision of said vehicle, resulting in flaps of the controlled deformation portion extending rearward relative to the seatback, wherein the controlled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.
 2. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the rupture line is generally defined by a thin contoured line integrally formed into the hard back panel.
 3. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the rupture line includes a perforated line including intermittent connectors spaced along the perforated line.
 4. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion includes an upper tier and a lower tier, wherein the upper tier is shallower than the lower tier, and wherein the controlled deformation portion is disposed in the lower tier.
 5. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the pocket wall defines a pocket disposed at a rear side of the hard back panel.
 6. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the rupture line includes a generally W-shaped configuration.
 7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising: a frame; a seat operably coupled with the frame and including a seat cushion assembly; a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat and including a seatback cushion assembly disposed over a forward portion of the frame; and a back panel operably coupled with a rear portion of the frame, the back panel comprising: an upper aesthetic portion; and a controlled deformation portion including a rupture line that includes a W-shaped configuration configured to allow the buttocks and hips of an occupant in said vehicle seating assembly to push the controlled deformation portion rearward during a collision event, allowing expansion of the controlled deformation portion at the rupture line.
 8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the rupture line is generally defined by a thin contoured line integrally formed into the back panel.
 9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the rupture line includes a perforated line including intermittent connectors spaced along the perforated line.
 10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a pocket defined by a pocket wall operably coupled with a rear side of the back panel.
 11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a recess, wherein the controlled deformation portion is at least partially disposed in the recess.
 12. A vehicle seating assembly comprising: a seat including a seat cushion assembly; a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat and including a seatback cushion assembly; and a back panel operably coupled with the seatback and comprising: an intermediate recessed portion; an upper aesthetic portion; and a controlled deformation portion including a rupture line, wherein the controlled deformation portion is generally concealed from rearward view by a pocket wall.
 13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein the rupture line is generally defined by a thin contoured line integrally formed into the back panel.
 14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein the rupture line includes a perforated line including intermittent connectors spaced along the perforated line.
 15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, further comprising: a pocket defined by a pocket wall operably coupled with a rear side of the back panel.
 16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, further comprising: a recess, wherein the controlled deformation portion is at least partially disposed in the recess.
 17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 16, wherein the recess includes an upper tier and a lower tier, wherein the upper tier is shallower than the lower tier, and wherein the controlled deformation portion is disposed in the lower tier.
 18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12, wherein the rupture line includes a generally W-shaped configuration. 